WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?

Couldn’t agree more about the “designer flow” thing. I’ve seen some wild kitchen layouts that look great in renderings but make zero sense for real people. You nailed it - living in the space matters more than impressing anyone with a fancy plan. Sometimes the simplest setup just works better, even if it’s not flashy.

WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?

That’s such a good point about renderings versus real life. I’ve walked through some “award-winning” homes that looked stunning in photos, but the flow was just... off. The fridge wedged behind an island, or the dishwasher so far from the sink you’d spill water every time. It’s wild how often usability gets sacrificed for a certain look.

Honestly, I think people underestimate how much day-to-day comfort matters. Flashy features are fun, but if you’re tripping over yourself to get a glass of water, it’s not worth it. Simple layouts can be more energy-efficient too - less wasted space means less to heat and cool. That’s something designers sometimes overlook when they’re focused on aesthetics.

I do get the appeal of a dramatic kitchen, but at the end of the day, living in your house should feel easy. If that means sticking with a classic triangle layout instead of some new trend, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Totally hear you on the “looks great in photos, but living in it is another story” thing. I once worked with a couple who were obsessed with this open-concept kitchen they’d seen online - looked gorgeous, but when we mapped it out, the fridge was basically in another zip code from the stove. They realized pretty quick that chasing trends wasn’t worth sacrificing their morning coffee routine. There’s nothing wrong with sticking to what actually works for your life. Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason...

WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?

I get the whole “classics are classics” thing, but honestly, I think sometimes people play it too safe. Here’s my take:

- Trends aren’t always bad. Some of the newer layouts actually solve problems the old ones never did.
- Open concept? Yeah, it can be a pain if you don’t plan it right, but that’s on the designer, not the idea itself.
- We went with a pretty modern setup - big island, open sightlines, and yeah, the fridge isn’t right next to the stove. But it works for us because we actually thought about how we move around the kitchen.
- I’d rather have something that fits how we live now, not just what’s always been done. The “classic” triangle layout never made sense for how we cook together anyway.

Guess my point is, don’t write off new ideas just because they’re trendy. If you hire someone good, they’ll help you make it work for your life, not just for Instagram.

WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?

I hear you on the “classic” layouts not always fitting real life. When we built, I actually brought in a designer after making a list of how we use each space - like, do we eat at the island or the table, do we need a mudroom, that sort of thing. It helped weed out designers who just wanted to copy-paste their usual plans. Trends come and go, but if it works for your family, that’s what matters.